Malahat Falls

The intrepid four have been much maligned about their inability to put the Malahat behind them.  I'm pleased to report that the Malahat is now nothing more than another piece of history, as it was summited today in less than an hour from the Mill Bay Ferry.  Other than the odd chest pain experienced by the eldest of the four, the Malahat turned out to be a vigorous start to another great day on the bikes! After a very nice Langford Bistro lunch we powered through Prospect Lake Road to coffee at the Red Barn and some further trip plans and packing discussions (apparently weight is such an issue that the eldest is the only one planning to take deodorant!). From there everyone went their separate ways home.
 

The Malahat

The Malahat

Rain was pathetically used as an excuse to avoid the Malahat last week.  Sancho has checked the forecast and there will be bright skies and no fear of precipitation Monday, the last training session when all four riders will be together before Spain.  Sancho's team-mates will attack the Malahat.  Sancho's pussies will find excuses.

THE WAYNINAR

Sancho was worried about roadside repairs in Spain, and the tour's obvious lack of mechanical abilities.  A seminar was arranged at Victoria's best bicycle store, Wayne and Pam's Performance Bikes.  Yasser from the Mediterranean Grocer catered dinner on the counter with traditional middle eastern specialties, including Lebanese humpback salmon, a dish responsible for much Israeli jealousy and middle eastern strife.
Tire changes, stem and headstay tuning, derailler repairs and adjustments, boxing and unpacking bikes, and a wealth of tips and suggestions were all covered over 4 hours late into the night.  Pam offered deeply discounted bike clothes along with all the necessary spares and tools for the tour.  Wayne imparted some useful thoughts on business, philosophy and life-lessons-learned to the assembled tour.  Its no coincidence that Performance is the best bike shop in Victoria.
Sancho was pleased.

RIDING IN THE RAIN

Monday was 65± kms around Victoria in continuous rain.  Ross, Daryl and Laurie met Grady on the Brentwood Ferry and coffee followed at the fancy Brentwood Lodge.  Then a meandering tour down the peninsula to the Victoria waterfront, around Oak Bay, down Arbutus and back to home.  Good ride but very wet.  Looking forward to Spanish heat.

Test to See If I can post to the blog

OK we can ride a bike but can we post on our progress???? Lets find out

Sancho's Challenge

Sancho is not very optomistic about the tour's success in Spain when the group is too lazy or too frightened to ride the Malahat.  Sancho thinks the Malahat should be conquered without further delay, or else change the name of the blog to Sancho's Pussies.  So the Victoria crowd is to be on next Monday's 9:50 ferry from Brentwood to meet Grady in Mill Bay at 10:15.  The Malahat awaits.  Victory is assured.

4rd Last Training Day

Only 25 days until we leave and these training days (every Monday) are ever so important to our fitness levels for the 3 week ride in Spain.  So we all met at my (Grady's) place, all except Daryl who had to work dispatch, and Laurie who was on his boat, oh and Ross who had a business meeting and we took off to the cottage at Honeymoon Bay.  Great day, 78.9Ks, avg. 20.1 kph over 3hrs 55min.  Well done guys!!  We are trying to put together an overnight training session to get a feel for what the "road" will be like with panniers full.  Stay tuned....     

Thanks to Ryan Miller for helping to set up the blog.  The technological abilities of Sancho would not have made it possible without Ryan's help.

Sancho's Travel Companions

One Month To Go

Today we all met at Tim Horton's in Mill Bay.  After coffee and treats we rode to Shawnigan Lake (uphill)  then over the Kinsol Tressel, on toward Cowichan on the Canada Trail, then back to Duncan for lunch, then Kohksila Rd south, across the highway and back to Mill Bay on Telegraph Rd.  60 km, lots of hills, tough going on the loose gravel on the trail.  Grady chose the route and we only got lost once. Daryl ran out of breath but from bitching not riding. Laurie bought lunch (again). Ross almost road home via Brentwood Ferry, but not quite. Average speed about 18 km/hr so not up to our usual.  Everyone shared the lead at one time or another, and no-one lagged behind. We're pretty much ready for Spain, but is Spain ready for us???